Photo (from left): Student Body Co-Presidents Bryan Zhao ’27 and Renee You ’27

On September 7, the Peddie community gathered outside Ayer Memorial Chapel to mark the beginning of the school’s 163rd academic year with Convocation. The crisp morning brought together a student body of 545, including 157 members of the Class of 2027. 

Student Body Co-Presidents Renee You ’27 and Bryan Zhao ’27 welcomed new and returning students and ushered in a year of self-discovery for Peddie. They shared that passion is the driving force behind learning more about one’s true self, even if the journey may seem difficult. Finding that passion, however, requires keeping an open mind.

“To find your passion is to swap comfort for curiosity,” shared Zhao. He encouraged his peers to use this academic year to take on new challenges or explore a new activity of interest. “Never acted before? Join the musical. Never held a baton? Sign up for the 100 meter relay.” 

You reminded students that passion “takes on many forms” apart from activities on campus, sharing that simply being involved within the local community may ignite a spark of passion for future endeavors. “Every day is a new opportunity to search for our calling,” she said. 

Peddie’s Head of School Jim Hamilton echoed the student leaders’ remarks, sharing his own hopes for students to collaborate and approach each new day at Peddie with curiosity for what’s possible, gratitude for those around them and the willingness to contribute to the on-campus and surrounding community. 

“Our motto tells us that we finish our labors to begin them anew,” he said. “Today is one of those moments. We begin anew and we do it together.” 

Following the remarks, faculty members presented academic and citizenship awards to students for outstanding contributions during the 2025-26 school year.

The Swetland Honor Prize: Riley Allen ’29
This prize is given in memory of Mrs. R. W. Swetland, a plaque retained at the school and a cup awarded to that member of the freshmen class who has made the greatest contribution to the school.

The F. Edward Potter Memorial Award: Samantha Forte ’27
This award is presented annually to a student upon completion of their junior year who most exemplifies the spirit imbued by Headmaster Edward Potter by having demonstrated character, citizenship, leadership, scholarship and a genuine concern for others.

Roy Brown Wintersteen Prize (Pre-Calculus): Ethan Fan ’29 and Cooper Manning ’27

The Henry Christensen United States History Prize: Bryan Zhao ’27

The John W. Doherty ’62 Award for Research in Modern Global History (Sophomore): Maitreyi Vaidya ’28

Foreign Language Prize (Chinese): Jonathan Koo ’27

Foreign Language Prize (Latin): Yishan (Dora) Shen ’27

Foreign Language Prize (French): Freja Jensen Pederson ’27

Foreign Language Prize (Spanish): Samantha Forte ’27

Miller Reading Prize for demonstrating the greatest progress in English during the 2025-26 academic year, 9th grade: Raven Sargeant ’29 and Jordan Bennett ’29

Miller Reading Prize, 10th grade: Marley Stahl ’28 and Ethan Nelson ’28

Miller Reading Prize, 11th grade: Anthony Kanis ’27

English department award for completing the most outstanding work in English during junior year: Aria Shi ’27

The Spirit of the Arts Award: Tsoi Tsit (Agnes) Yung ’29